TWI531191B - Preamble for use within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or mimo wireless communications - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for operating a communication device

The present invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to the implementation of long range and low rate wireless communication in such communication systems.

It is well known that communication systems support wireless and wired link communication between wireless and/or wired link communication devices. Such communication systems vary within the range of domestic and/or international cellular telephone systems that are connected to the Internet to point-to-point home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed and operated in accordance with one or more communication standards. For example, a wireless communication system can operate in accordance with one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11x, Bluetooth, Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Digital AMPS, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), code points. Multiple Access (CDMA), Regional Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS), Multiplex Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS), and/or variations thereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, wireless communication devices, such as cellular phones, two-way radios, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers (PCs), notebook computers, home entertainment devices, etc., directly or indirectly with other wireless devices The communication device communicates. For direct communication (also known as point-to-point communication), wireless communication devices participating in communication adjust their receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (eg, multiple radio frequency (RF) carriers of a wireless communication system One of them) and communicate on these channels. For indirect wireless communication, each wireless communication device communicates directly with an associated base station (e.g., cellular service) and or associated access point (e.g., a wireless network within a home or building) over a designated channel. In order to realize a communication connection between wireless communication devices, the related base station And/or related access points can communicate directly with one another via system controllers, public switched telephone networks, the Internet, and/or other wide area networks.

Each wireless communication device participating in wireless communication includes a built-in radio transceiver (ie, a receiver and a transmitter), or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (eg, a website for a wireless communication network within a home and/or building, RF data machine, etc.). As is well known, the receiver is connected to the antenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The low noise amplifier receives the inbound RF signal through the antenna and amplifies it. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the amplified RF signal with one or more local oscillations to convert the amplified RF signal to a baseband signal or an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The filtering stage filters the baseband signal or the IF signal to attenuate the unwanted outgoing band signal to produce a filtered signal. The data recovery stage recovers the original data from the filtered signal according to a particular wireless communication standard.

It is also well known that the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The data modulation stage converts the original data into baseband signals according to a specific wireless communication standard. One or more intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signal with one or more local oscillations to produce an RF signal. The power amplifier amplifies the RF signal before being transmitted through the antenna.

Typically, the transmitter includes an antenna for transmitting RF signals that are received by a single or multiple antennas of the receiver. When the receiver includes two or more antennas, the receiver selects one of the antennas to receive the incoming RF signal. In this way, even if the receiver includes multiple antennas that are used as diversity antennas, the wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiver is single output single input (SISO) communication (ie, selecting one of the multiple antennas to receive the transmission) Into the RF signal). For SISO wireless communication, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. Currently, most follow IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g wireless local area networks (WLANs) use SISO wireless communication.

Other types of wireless communications include single-input multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input single-output (MISO), and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). In SIMO wireless communication, a single transmitter processes the data into a radio frequency signal that is transmitted to the receiver. The receiver includes two or more antennas and two or more receiver paths. Each antenna receives RF signals and provides them to a corresponding receiver path (eg, LNA, down conversion module, filter, and ADC). Each receiver path processes the received RF signals to produce digital signals, which are combined and processed to regain the transmitted data.

In multi-input single-output (MISO) wireless communication, the transmitter includes two or more transmit paths (eg, digital-to-analog converters, filters, up-conversion modules, and power amplifiers), each path corresponding to the baseband signal Partially converted to an RF signal, the RF signal is transmitted through the corresponding antenna to the receiver. The receiver includes a single receive path that receives a plurality of RF signals from the transmitter. In this case, the receiver combines multiple RF signals into one signal for processing using beamforming techniques.

In multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication, both the transmitter and the receiver include multiple paths. In such communications, the transmitter uses spatial time coding to process data in parallel to produce two or more data flows. The transmitter includes a plurality of transmission paths for converting each data stream into a plurality of RF signals. The receiver receives a plurality of RF signals through a plurality of receiver paths that re-acquire the data flow using spatial time coding functionality. The reacquired data flow is merged and subsequently processed into recovered raw data.

For various types of wireless communications (eg, SISO, MISO, SIMO, and MIMO), it may be desirable to utilize one or more types of wireless communications to increase the amount of data in the WLAN. For example, MIMO communication can achieve high data rates compared to SISO communication. However, most WLANs include traditional wireless communication devices (ie, devices that follow older versions of wireless communication standards). As such, transmitters capable of MIMO wireless communication should also be backward compatible with legacy equipment to perform their functions in most existing WLANs.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a WLAN device that has high data throughput and is backward compatible with conventional devices.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: a baseband processing module, configured to generate a signal including a preamble signal according to a first preamble signal type or a second preamble signal type, wherein the first preamble signal type only corresponds to Open loop single user transmission; and the second preamble signal type corresponding to single user beamforming transmission or multi-user transmission; and at least one antenna for transmitting the signal or at least one additional signal corresponding to the signal to At least one wireless communication device; and wherein: said first preamble signal type comprises at least one short code portion followed by at least one long code portion, followed by a signal field followed by at least one additional long code portion; said second The preamble signal type includes at least one short code portion followed by at least one long code portion followed by a signal field followed by at least one additional short code portion followed by at least one long code portion; and the preamble signal is followed by a data field .

Preferably: The second preamble type corresponds to multi-user transmission; the second preamble type includes at least one long code portion followed by at least one additional signal field; and the signal field may indicate according to a second preamble type A demodulation code set associated with the at least one additional signal field.

Preferably, the at least one antenna is configured to transmit the signal or the at least one additional signal corresponding to the signal to a plurality of wireless communication devices; the second preamble signal type includes at least one additional The at least one long code portion of the signal field; the signal field comprising a first plurality of bits having a relatively lowest modulation code set that can be processed or demodulated by all of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the base service set And the second signal field includes a second plurality of bits for at least one of the selected ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the base service set.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, comprising: a baseband processing module, configured to generate a signal including a preamble signal according to a first preamble signal type or a second preamble signal type, wherein the first preamble signal type only corresponds to Open loop single-user transmission; and the second preamble signal type corresponding to single-user beamforming transmission or multi-user transmission; and at least one antenna for transmitting the signal or at least one other signal corresponding to the signal to at least A wireless communication device.

Preferably, the first preamble signal type includes at least one short code portion, followed by at least one long code portion, followed by a signal field, followed by at least one of Its long code portion; and the preamble signal is followed by a data field.

Preferably, the second preamble type corresponds to multi-user transmission; and the second preamble type includes at least one short code portion, followed by at least one long code portion, followed by a signal field, followed by at least one other The short code portion is followed by at least one long code portion; and the leading signal is followed by a data field.

Preferably, the second preamble signal type corresponds to multi-user transmission; and the second preamble signal type includes at least one short code portion, followed by at least one long code portion, followed by a first signal field, followed by at least An additional short code portion followed by at least one additional long code portion followed by a second signal field; and the preamble signal is followed by a data field.

Advantageously, said at least one antenna is operative to transmit said signal or said at least one additional signal corresponding to said signal to a plurality of wireless communication devices; said first signal field comprising having a central service concentratable a first plurality of bits of a relatively lowest modulation and coding set that are processed or demodulated by all of the plurality of wireless communication devices; and the second signal field includes the plurality of wireless communications for the set of basic services A second plurality of bits of at least one of the selections in the device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a communication device is provided, the method comprising: generating a packet according to a first preamble signal type or a second preamble signal type a signal including a preamble signal, wherein the first preamble signal type corresponds to only an open loop single user transmission; and the second preamble signal type corresponds to a single user beamforming transmission or a multi-user transmission; and at least through the communication device An antenna transmitting the signal or at least one additional signal corresponding to the signal to at least one wireless communication device.

Preferably, the first preamble signal type includes at least one short code portion, followed by at least one long code portion, followed by a signal field, followed by at least one additional long code portion; and the preamble signal is followed by a data field .

1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication system 10 that includes a plurality of base stations and/or access points 12-16, a plurality of wireless communication devices 18-32, and network hardware components 34. Wireless communication devices 18-32 may be notebook hosts 18 and 26, personal digital assistant hosts 20 and 30, personal computer hosts 24 and 32, and/or cellular telephone hosts 22 and 28. Various details of an embodiment of such a wireless communication device are described in greater detail in conjunction with FIG.

Base stations (BSs) or access points (APs) 12-16 are operatively coupled to network hardware 34 via area network connections 36, 38 and 40. Network hardware 34 may be a router, switch, bridge, modem, system controller, etc., which provides wide area network connection 42 for communication system 10. Each of the base stations or access points 12-16 has an associated antenna or antenna array to communicate with wireless communication devices within its area. Typically, the wireless communication device registers with a particular base station or access point 12-14 to receive service from the communication system 10. Connect directly Words (ie, peer-to-peer communication), wireless communication devices communicate directly through the distribution channel.

Typically, base stations are used in cellular telephone systems (eg, Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Digital AMPS, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS), Multiplex Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS), Enhanced Data Rate GSM Evolution Technology (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA and/or its variants) and Similar types of systems), and access points are used in home wireless networks or wireless networks within buildings (eg, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Violet, other types of RF-based network protocols and/or Deformation). Regardless of the particular type of communication system, each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio and is coupled to the radio. Such wireless communication devices can operate in accordance with various aspects of the present invention presented herein to enhance performance, reduce cost, reduce size, and/or enhance broadband applications.

2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication device that includes a primary device 18-32 and an associated radio 60. For cellular telephone hosts, radio 60 is a built-in group component. For a personal digital assistant host, a notebook host, and/or a personal computer host, the radio 60 may be a built-in group component or an external coupling component. For an access point or base station, the components are typically housed in a single structure.

As illustrated, the master device 18-32 includes a processing module 50, a memory 52, a radio interface 54, an input interface 58, and an output interface 56. Processing module 50 and memory 52 execute respective instructions that are typically completed by the host device. For example, for a cellular telephone master, processing module 50 performs corresponding communication functions in accordance with a particular cellular telephone standard.

The radio interface 54 allows for funding from the radio 60 and to the radio 60 material. In the case of data received from the radio 60 (e.g., inbound data), the radio interface 50 provides the data to the processing module 50 for further processing and/or routing to the output interface 56. The output interface 56 provides connectivity to an output display device (e.g., display, monitor, speaker, etc.) to display the received data. The radio interface 54 also provides material from the processing module 50 to the radio 60. The processing module 50 can receive outbound data from an input device (eg, a keyboard, a button, a microphone, etc.) via the input interface 58, or generate data from itself. For data received through the input interface 58, the processing module 50 can perform corresponding host functions on the data, and/or route data to the radio 60 via the radio interface 54.

The radio 60 includes a host interface 62, a baseband processing module 64, a memory 66, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters 68-72, a transmit/receive (T/R) module 74, a plurality of antennas 82-86, and a plurality of RF receivers 76-80 and local oscillator module 100. The baseband processing module 64 performs digital receiver functions and digital transmitter functions in conjunction with operational commands stored in the memory 66. As will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 11B, digital receiver functions include, but are not limited to, digital intermediate frequency to baseband conversion, demodulation, cluster demapping, decoding, deinterleaving, fast Fourier transform, and removal of the loop back. (cyclic prefix removal), time division decoding, and/or descrambling. As will be described in more detail in conjunction with the figures, digital transmitter functions include, but are not limited to, scrambling, encoding, interleaving, cluster mapping, modulation, inverse fast Fourier transform, increasing loop first code, time division coding, and/or digits. Baseband to IF conversion. The baseband processing module 64 can be implemented using one or more processing devices. Such processing devices may be microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gate arrays, programmable logic devices, state machines, logic circuits, analog circuits, digital circuits, and / or based on Any device that commands the manipulation of signals (analog and/or digits). Memory 66 may be a single memory device or multiple memory devices. Such memory devices may be read-only memory, random access memory, dynamic memory, non-dynamic memory, static memory, dynamic storage devices, flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. It should be noted that when the processing module 64 performs one or more of its functions through a state machine, an analog circuit, a digital circuit, and/or a logic circuit, the memory storing the corresponding operation command is embedded in the state machine, the analog circuit. In the circuit of a digital circuit and/or a logic circuit.

In operation, the radio 60 receives the outbound material 88 from the host device via the host interface 62. The baseband processing module 64 receives the outbound material 88 and generates one or more outbound symbol streams 90 based on the mode selection signal 102. Mode select signal 102 will indicate a particular mode as shown in the mode selection table, which is presented at the end of the detailed discussion. For example, referring to Table 1, mode select signal 102 may indicate a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band, a 20 or 22 MHz channel bandwidth (eg, a 20 or 22 MHz wide channel), and a maximum bit rate of 54 megabits per second. In other embodiments, the channel bandwidth can be extended to 1.28 GHz or more, with the maximum bit rate supported being extended to 1 billion bits per second or more. In this general classification, the mode selection signal will further indicate a particular rate from 1 megabits per second to 54 megabits per second. Additionally, the mode selection signal will indicate a particular modulation type including, but not limited to, Barker code modulation, BPSK, QPSK, CCK, 16 QAM, and/or 64 QAM. As further shown in Table 1, the code rate is provided, as well as the number of coded bits per subcarrier (NBPSC), the number of coded bits per OFDM symbol (NCBPS), the amount of data bits per OFDM symbol (NDBPS). .

The mode selection signal can also indicate a specific channelization for the corresponding mode (channelization), in terms of the specific channelization, the information in Table 1 is set forth in Table 2. As shown, Table 2 contains the number of channels and the corresponding center frequency. The mode selection signal may also indicate a power spectral density mask value, and the power spectral density mask values of Table 1 are set forth in Table 3. Alternatively, the mode select signal may indicate the rate in Table 4, which has a 5 GHz band, a 20 MHz channel bandwidth, and a maximum bit rate of 54 megabits per second. If this is a particular mode selection, then channelization is illustrated in Table 5. As shown in Table 6, as a further alternative, mode select signal 102 may indicate a maximum bit rate of 2.4 GHz band, 20 MHz channel, and 192 megabits per second. In Table 6, many antennas can be used to achieve higher bit rates. In this case, the mode selection will further indicate the number of antennas to be used. Table 7 illustrates the channelization settings of Table 6. Table 8 illustrates other mode options in which the frequency band is 2.4 GHz, the channel width is 20 MHz, and the maximum bit rate is 192 megabits per second. As shown, the corresponding Table 8 uses 2-4 antennas and a spatial time encoding rate, including individual bits arranged from 12 megabits per second to 216 megabits per second. rate. Table 9 illustrates the channelization of Table 8. Mode select signal 102 may also indicate a particular mode of operation as shown in Table 10, which corresponds to a 5 GHz band with a 40 MHz band, a 40 MHz channel, and a maximum bit rate of 486 megabits per second. As shown in Table 10, the bit rate can vary from 1-4 antennas and corresponding spatial time code rates, ranging from 13.5 megabits per second to 486 megabits per second. Table 10 further illustrates the specific modulation scheme code rate and NBPSC values. Table 11 provides the power spectral density mask of Table 10, while Table 12 provides the channelization of Table 10.

It is to be noted that other types of different bandwidths may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. aisle. For example, various other channels may alternatively be employed in accordance with the IEEE Working Group ac (TGac VHTL6), for example, those having a bandwidth of 80 MHz, 120 MHz, and/or 160 MHz.

Baseband processing module 64 generates one or more outbound symbol streams 90 from output data 88 based on mode select signal 102, as further described in connection with 5-9. For example, if mode select signal 102 indicates that a single transmit antenna is used for a particular mode that has been selected, baseband processing module 64 will generate a single outbound symbol stream 90. Alternatively, if the mode selection signal indicates 2, 3 or 4 antennas, the baseband processing module 64 will generate 2, 3 or 4 outbound symbol streams 90 corresponding to the number of antennas from the output data 88.

Depending on the number of outbound streams 90 generated by the baseband module 64, a corresponding number of RF transmitters 68-72 will be enabled to convert the outbound symbol stream 90 to the outbound RF signal 92. Embodiments of the RF transmitters 68-72 will be further described in conjunction with FIG. Transmit/receive module 74 receives outbound RF signal 92 and provides respective outbound RF signals to respective antennas 82-86.

When the radio 60 is in the receive mode, the transmit/receive module 74 receives one or more inbound RF signals via the antennas 82-86. The T/R module 74 provides an inbound RF signal 94 for one or more RF receivers 76-80. The RF receivers 76-80, which are described in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 4, convert the inbound RF signals 94 into a corresponding number of inbound symbol streams 96. The number of inbound symbol streams 96 corresponds to a particular pattern of received material (secondary call to this mode is any of the modes described in Tables 1-12). The baseband processing module 64 receives the inbound symbol stream 90 and converts it into inbound material 98, which is provided to the host device 18-32 via the host interface 62.

In one embodiment of the radio 60, the radio includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can include a MAC module, a PLCP module, and a PMD module. A Media Access Control (MAC) module that can be implemented in conjunction with processing module 64 is operatively coupled to convert a MAC Service Data Unit (MSDU) into a MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) in accordance with a WLAN protocol. The physical layer convergence program (PLCP) module, which can be implemented in the processing module 64, is operatively coupled to convert the MPDU into a PLCP Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) in accordance with the WLAN protocol. A physical medium related (PMD) module is operatively coupled to convert the PPDU into a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals in accordance with one of a plurality of operational modes of the WLAN protocol; wherein the plurality of operational modes comprise a combination of multiple inputs and multiple outputs.

An embodiment of a physical medium related (PMD) module, which will be described in more detail in conjunction with FIGS. 10A and 10B, includes an error protection module, a demultiplexing module, and a plurality of direct conversion modules. The error proofing module, which can be implemented in the processing module 64, is operatively coupled to reassemble the PPDU (PLCP (Physical Layer Convergence Protocol) protocol data unit) to reduce transmission errors in the generation of error proofing data. The multiplexed module is operatively coupled to divide the error-proof data into multiple error-proof data flows. Multiple direct conversion modules are operatively coupled to convert multiple error-proof data flows into multiple radio frequency (RF) signals.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the wireless communication device of Figure 2 can be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. For example, the master device can be implemented on an integrated circuit, the baseband processing module 64 and the memory 66 can be implemented on the second integrated circuit, and the radio 60 can be implemented on the third integrated circuit to remove the remaining components of the antennas 82-86. As an example of an antenna, the radio 60 can be implemented on a single integrated circuit. As another example, the processing module 50 and baseband processing module 64 of the master device may be a shared processing device implemented on a single integrated circuit. Further, the memory 52 and the memory 66 can be implemented on a single integrated circuit, and/or the memory 52 and the memory 66 can be It is realized on the same integrated circuit as the shared processing module of the processing module 50 and the baseband processing module 64.

3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter 68-72 or RF front end of a WLAN transmitter. The RF transmitters 68-72 include a digital filter and up-samping module 75, a digital to analog conversion module 77, an analog filter 79 and an up conversion module 81, a power amplifier 83, and an RF filter 85. The digital filter and upsampling module 75 receives one of the outbound symbol streams 90, digitally filters it, and then upsamples the rate of the symbol stream to a desired rate to produce a filtered symbol stream 87. The digital to analog conversion module 77 converts the filtered symbol 87 into an analog signal 89. The analog signal can include an in-phase component and a quadrature component.

The analog filter 79 filters the analog signal 89 to produce a filtered analog signal 91. The up-conversion module 81 can include a pair of mixers and filters that mix the filtered analog signal 91 with the local oscillator 93 generated by the local oscillator module 100 to produce a high frequency signal 95. The frequency of the high frequency signal 95 corresponds to the frequency of the outbound RF signal 92.

The power amplifier 83 amplifies the high frequency signal 95 to produce an amplified high frequency signal 97. The RF filter 85 may be a high frequency band pass filter that filters the amplified high frequency signal 97 to produce the desired output RF signal 92.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each of the radio frequency transmitters 68-72 will include a similar architecture as shown in FIG. 3 and further include a shut-down mechanism so that when a particular In the case of a radio frequency transmitter, the RF transmitter is disabled in this manner in a cut-off configuration so that it does not generate interference signals and/or noise.

4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an RF receiver. It can describe any of the RF receivers 76-80. In this embodiment, the RF receiver 76-80 Each includes an RF filter 101, a low noise amplifier (LNA) 103, a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) 105, a down conversion module 107, an analog filter 109, an analog to digital conversion module 111, and a digital filter. And down sampling module 113. The RF filter 101 may be a high frequency band pass filter that accepts the inbound RF signal 94, filters it to produce a filtered inbound RF signal. The low noise amplifier 103 amplifies the filtered inbound RF signal 94 based on the gain and provides the amplified signal to the programmable gain amplifier 105. The programmable gain amplifier further amplifies the inbound RF signal 94 before providing it to the down conversion module 107.

The down conversion module 107 includes a pair of mixers, summing modules, and filters to mix the inbound RF signal with the local oscillation (LO) provided by the local oscillator module to produce an analog baseband signal. The analog filter 109 filters the analog baseband signal and provides it to the analog to digital conversion module 111; the analog to digital conversion module converts the analog baseband signal into a digital signal. The digital filter and downsampling module 113 filters the digital signal and then adjusts the sampling rate to produce a digital sample (corresponding to the inbound symbol stream 96).

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a baseband processing method of data. This schematic shows a method of converting outbound material 88 into one or more outbound symbol streams 90 by baseband processing module 64. The process begins in step 110 where the baseband processing module receives the outbound material 88 and the mode selection signal 102. The mode selection signal may indicate any of the various modes of operation as shown in Tables 1-12. The process then proceeds to step 112 where the baseband processing module scrambles the data in accordance with a pseudo-random sequence to produce scrambled data. It should be noted that the pseudo-random sequence can be generated by the feedback shift register using the generator polynomial S(x) = x ⁷ + x ⁴ +1.

The process then proceeds to step 114 where the baseband processing module is based on the modulo The mode selection signal selects one of a plurality of coding modes. The process then proceeds to step 116 where the baseband processing module encodes the scrambled material in accordance with the selected coding mode to produce the encoded material. Encoding may be accomplished using any one or more of various coding schemes, such as convolutional coding, Reed-Solomon (RS) turbo coding, Accelerated Trellis Coded Modulation (TTCM) coding, LDPC ( Low density parity) coding, etc.

The process then proceeds to step 118 where the baseband processing module determines the number of transmit streams based on the mode select signal. For example, the mode selection signal will select a particular mode that indicates that 1, 2, 3, 4 or more antennas are available for transmission. Accordingly, the number of transmit streams will correspond to the number of antennas indicated by the mode select signal. The process then proceeds to step 120 where the baseband processing module converts the encoded data into a symbol stream in accordance with the number of transmit streams in the mode select signal. This step will be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a method further defining step 120 of FIG. This schematic shows a method performed by the baseband processing module to convert the encoded data into a symbol stream in accordance with the number of transmit streams and the mode selection signal. The process begins in step 122 where the baseband processing module interleaves the encoded data through the multi-symbol and multi-subcarriers of the channel to produce interleaved data. In general, the interleaving process is designed to spread coded data over multiple symbols and multiple transmit streams. This allows for improved detection and error correction at the receiver. In one embodiment, the interleaving process will follow the IEEE 802.11 (a) or (g) standard for the backward compatible mode. For higher performance modes (eg, IEEE 802.11(n)), interleaving can also be done over multiple transmit paths or multiple transmit streams.

The process then proceeds to step 124 where the baseband processing module demultiplexes the interleaved data into parallel streams of a plurality of interleaved data. The number and flow of parallel flows The number of jets corresponds, the number of which in turn corresponds to the number of antennas indicated by the particular mode used. The process then proceeds to steps 126 and 128, wherein for each parallel stream of interleaved data, the baseband processing module maps the interleaved data to quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) symbols to generate frequency domain symbols in step 126. At step 128, the baseband processing module converts the frequency domain symbols into time domain symbols, which can be done using an inverse fast Fourier transform. Converting the frequency domain symbols to time domain symbols may also include adding a loop first code to allow intersymbol interference to be removed at the receiver. It should be noted that the lengths of the inverse fast Fourier transform and the loop first code are defined in the pattern tables of Tables 1-12. In general, a 64-point inverse fast Fourier transform is used for the 20 MHz channel, and a 128-point inverse fast Fourier transform is used for the 40 MHz channel.

The process then proceeds to step 130 where the baseband processing module time-divisionally encodes the time-domain symbols of each parallel stream of interleaved data to produce a stream of symbols. In one embodiment, time division coding may be accomplished by using a coding matrix to time-division time-domain symbols of parallel streams of interleaved data into a corresponding number of symbol streams. Alternatively, time division coding can be accomplished by using a coding matrix to time-division the time domain symbols of the M-parallel stream of the interleaved data into a P-symbol stream, where P = 2M. In one embodiment, the encoding matrix can include the following format:

The number of rows of the coding matrix corresponds to M, and the number of columns of the coding matrix corresponds to P. A particular symbol value for a constant within a coding matrix may be a real or imaginary number.

7-9 are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of encoding scrambling data.

7 is a schematic diagram of one method by which a baseband processing module can be used to encode scrambled data at step 116 of FIG. In this method, the compilation of Figure 7 The code can include an optional step 144 in which the baseband processing module can optionally perform encoding using an external Reed-Solomon (RS) code to generate RS encoded material. It should be noted that step 144 may be performed in parallel with step 140 described below.

Similarly, the process continues at step 140, where the baseband processing module rolls the scrambled material (which may or may not undergo RS coding) using a 64-state code and a generator polynomial of G ₀ = 133 ₈ and G ₁ = 171 ₈ Product coding to generate convolutional coded data. The process then proceeds to step 142 where the baseband processing module convolves the encoded data at one of a plurality of rates in accordance with the mode selection signal to produce encoded material. It should be noted that the puncture rate may comprise 1/2, 2/3 and/or 3/4, or any of the rates specified in Tables 1-12. It should be noted that for a particular mode, the rate requirements of IEEE 802.11 (a), IEEE 802.11 (g), or IEEE 802.11 (n) may be selected to select a backward compatible rate.

8 is a schematic diagram of another encoding method that may be used by the baseband processing module to encode scrambled data at step 116 of FIG. In this embodiment, the encoding of FIG. 8 includes an optional step 148 in which the baseband processing module can selectively perform encoding using an external RS code to generate RS encoded material. It should be noted that step 148 may be performed in parallel with step 146 described below.

The method then proceeds to step 146 where the baseband processing module encodes the scrambled material (which may or may not undergo RS coding) in accordance with a Supplemental Keying (CCK) code to produce encoded material. This can be done in accordance with the IEEE 802.11(b) specification, IEEE 802.11(g), and/or IEEE 802.11(n) specifications.

9 is a schematic diagram of another method for encoding scrambled material that may be performed by the baseband processing module at step 116. In this embodiment, the encoding of FIG. 9 includes an optional step 154 in which the baseband processing module is selectively pluckable Encoding is performed with an external RS code to generate RS encoded material.

Then, in some embodiments, the process continues at step 150, where the baseband processing module performs LDPC (Low Density Co-Bit) encoding on the scrambling material (which may or may not undergo RS encoding) to generate LDPC code bits. Alternatively, step 150 operates by performing a convolutional encoding on the scrambling data (which may or may not undergo RS encoding) using a 256 status code and a generator polynomial of G ₀ =561 ₈ and G ₁ =753 ₈ to Generate convolutional coded data. The process then proceeds to step 152 where the baseband processing module convolves the encoded material at one of a plurality of rates in accordance with the mode selection signal to produce encoded material. It should be noted that the perforation rate for the corresponding mode is shown in Table 1-12.

The encoding of Figure 9 can also include an optional step 154 in which the baseband processing module combines the convolutional encoding with the outer Reed Solomon code to produce convolutional encoded material.

10A and 10B are schematic illustrations of embodiments of a radio frequency transmitter. It may involve a PMD module of a WLAN transmitter. In FIG. 10A, baseband processing is shown to include scrambler 172, channel encoder 174, interleaver 176, demultiplexer 170, multiple symbol mappers 180-184, multiple inverse fast Fourier transforms (IFFT)/ The loop first code adds modules 186-190 and hour/minute encoder 192. The baseband portion of the transmitter may also include a mode manager module 175 that receives the mode selection signal 173, generates a setting 179 for the radio frequency transmitter portion, and produces a rate selection 171 for the baseband portion. In this embodiment, the scrambler 172, channel encoder 174, and interleaver 176 include an error protection module. The symbol mappers 180-184, the plurality of IFFT/loop first code modules 186-190, and the time division encoder 192 include a portion of the digital baseband processing module.

In operation, the scrambler 172 (e.g., in the Galois Finite Field (GF2)) adds a pseudo-random sequence to the outbound data bit 88, thereby making the data appear random. The pseudo-random sequence may be generated by a feedback shift register using a generator polynomial S(x) = x ⁷ + x ⁴ +1 to generate scrambled data. Channel encoder 174 receives the scrambled data and generates a new sequence of bits with redundancy. This will enable improved detection at the receiver. Channel encoder 174 may operate in one of a plurality of modes. For example, for backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11 (a) and IEEE 802.11 (g), the channel coder has the form of a 1/2 rate convolutional coder with a 64 status code and G ₀ = 133 A generator polynomial of ₈ and G ₁ = 171 ₈ . The output of the convolutional encoder can be punctured at rates of 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4, depending on the particular rate table (eg, Tables 1-12). For backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11 (b) and IEEE 802.11 (g), the channel encoder has the form of a CCK code as defined in IEEE 802.11 (b). For higher data rates (such as those set forth in Tables 6, 8, and 10), the channel encoder can use the same convolutional coding as described above, which can use more powerful code, including more states, Any one or more of the various types of error correction codes (ECC) described above (eg, RS, LDPC, acceleration, TTCM, etc.), parallel concatenated (acceleration) codes, and/or low density parity (LDPC) block codes. Further, any of these codes can be combined with an external Reed Solomon code. One or more of these codes are optimal based on performance balance, backward compatibility, and low latency. It should be noted that cascading accelerated coding and low density parity are described in more detail in conjunction with subsequent schematics.

Interleaver 176 receives the encoded data and propagates the encoded data over multiple symbols and multiple transmitted streams. This allows for improved detection and error correction at the receiver. In one embodiment, interleaver 176 will follow IEEE 802.11(a) or (g) in the reverse compatibility mode. For higher performance modes (eg, those illustrated in Tables 6, 8, and 10), the interleaver will interleave the data through multiple transmit streams. The demultiplexer 170 will serialize the interlaces from the interleaver 176 The cross-flow is converted to an M-parallel stream for transmission.

Each symbol mapper 180-184 receives a corresponding path of the M-parallel path of the material from the demultiplexer. Each symbol mapper 180-182 locks the bitstream lock to a quadrature amplitude modulated QAM symbol (eg, BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM, etc.) according to a rate table (eg, Tables 1-12). . For the IEEE 802.11(a) reverse compatibility, a dual Gray code can be used.

The mapping symbols generated by each of the symbol mappers 180-184 are provided to the IFFT/loop first code adding module 186-190, and the IFFT/loop first code adding module performs frequency to time domain conversion, and adds one A code that allows inter-symbol interference to be removed at the receiver. It should be noted that the length of the IFFT and loop first code is defined in the pattern table of Table 1-12. In general, 64-point IFFT is used for 20 MHz channels, while 128-point IFFT is used for 40 MHz channels.

The hour/minute encoder 192 receives the M-parallel path of the time domain symbol and converts it to a P-output symbol. In one embodiment, the number of M-input paths is equal to the number of P-output paths. In another embodiment, the number P of output paths is equal to the 2M path. For each path, the hour/minute encoder doubles the input symbols with an encoding matrix of the form:

The rows of the coding matrix correspond to the number of input paths, and the columns correspond to the number of output paths.

10B is a schematic diagram of a radio frequency portion of a transmitter including a plurality of digital filter/upsampling modules 194-198, digital to analog conversion modules 200-204, analog filters 206-216, and I/Q modulators. 218-222, RF placed The amplifiers 224-228, the RF filters 230-234 and the antennas 236-240. The P-output from the hour/minute encoder 192 is received by each digital filtering/upsampling module 194-198. In one embodiment, the digital filter/upsampling module 194-198 is part of a digital baseband processing module and the remaining components include a plurality of RF front ends. In such an embodiment, the digital baseband processing module and the RF front end include a direct conversion module.

In operation, the number of active radio paths corresponds to the number of P-outputs. For example, if only one P-output path is generated, then only one of the radio transmitter paths will be active. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the number of output paths can vary from one to the desired number.

The digital filtering/upsampling modules 194-198 filter the respective symbols and adjust the sampling rate to correspond to the desired sampling rate of the digital to analog conversion modules 200-204. The digital to analog conversion module 200-204 converts the digitally filtered and upsampled signals into corresponding in-phase analog signals and quadrature analog signals. The analog filters 206-214 filter the corresponding in-phase and/or quadrature components of the analog signal and provide the filtered signals to the respective I/Q modulators 218-222. The local oscillator based I/Q modulators 218-222 convert the I/Q signals into radio frequency signals; the local oscillations are generated by the local oscillator 100.

The RF amplifiers 224-228 amplify the RF signal and filter it after amplification by the RF filters 230-234 before transmitting the RF signal through the antennas 236-240.

11A and 11B are schematic illustrations of various embodiments of a radio frequency receiver (shown by reference numeral 250). These schematic diagrams illustrate an exemplary block diagram of another embodiment of a receiver. Figure 11A is a schematic illustration of an analog portion of a receiver that includes multiple receiver paths. Each receiver path package Includes antenna, RF filter 252-256, low noise amplifier 258-262, I/Q demodulator 264-268, analog filter 270-280, analog to digital converter 282-286 and digital filter and downsampling Modules 299-290.

In operation, the antenna receives an inbound RF signal, which is a bandpass filtered signal through RF filters 252-256. Corresponding low noise amplifiers 258-262 amplify the filtered signals and provide them to corresponding I/Q modems 264-268. The local oscillator based I/Q modems 264-268 downconvert the RF signal to a baseband in-phase analog signal and a quadrature analog signal; the local oscillator is generated by the local oscillator 100.

Corresponding analog filters 270-280 filter the in-phase analog components and the quadrature analog components, respectively. Analog to digital converters 282-286 convert the in-phase analog signal and the quadrature analog signal into a digital signal. The digital filtering and downsampling module 288-290 filters the digital signal and adjusts the sampling rate to correspond to the rate of baseband processing depicted in Figure 11B.

Figure 11B is a schematic diagram of the baseband processing of the receiver. The baseband processing includes a time/division decoder 294, a plurality of fast Fourier transform (FFT)/loop first code removal modules 296-300, a plurality of symbol demapping modules 302-306, a multiplexer 308, and a deinterleaver 310. Channel decoder 312 and descrambling module 314. The baseband processing module can also include a mode management module 175 that generates a rate selection 171 and a rate setting 179 based on the mode selection 173. The time/division decoding module 294, which performs the reverse function of the hour/minute encoder 192, receives the P-input from the receiver path and generates an M-output path. The M-output path is processed by the FFT/loop first code removal module 296-300, and the FFT/loop first code removal module performs the inverse function of the IFFT/loop first code addition module 186-190 to generate Frequency symbol.

The symbol demapping modules 302-306 utilize the inverse of the symbol mapper 180-184 Convert the frequency symbol to data to the process. The multiplexer 308 combines the demapped symbol streams into a single path.

Deinterleaver 310 deinterleaves a single path using the inverse function of the functions performed by interleaver 176. The channel decoder 321 is then provided with de-interleaved data; the channel decoder 312 performs the inverse function of the channel encoder 174. The descrambler 314 receives the decoded data and performs the inverse function of the scrambler 172 to generate the inbound material 98.

12 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an access point (AP) and a multiple wireless area network (WLAN) device operating in accordance with one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention. The AP point 1200 can be compatible with any number of communication protocols and/or standards such as: IEEE 802.11(a), IEEE 802.11(b), IEEE 802.11(g), IEEE 802.11(n) And protocols and/or standards in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the AP also supports backward compatibility with earlier versions of the IEEE 802.11x standard. In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, AP 1200 supports communication with WLAN devices 1202, 1204, and 1206 that have channel bandwidth, MIMO size, and data throughput that are not supported by earlier IEEE 802.11x operating standards. For example, access point 1200 and WLAN devices 1202, 1204, and 1206 can support channel bandwidths from those earlier versions of the device and channel bandwidths from 40 MHz - 1.28 GHz and above. Access point 1200 and WLAN devices 1202, 1204, and 1206 support a MIMO size of 4x4 or greater. With these features, access point 1200 and WLAN devices 1202, 1204, and 1206 can support data throughput rates of 1 GHz and above.

The AP 1200 supports simultaneous communication with more than one WLAN device 1202, 1204, and 1206. Through OFDM tone allocation (eg, given a certain number of OFDM tones in a cluster), MIMO Dimension multiplexing or other technologies to serve simultaneous communication. With some simultaneous communication, the AP 1200 can allocate one or more of its multiple antennas to support communication with each of the WLAN devices 1202, 1204, and 1206.

Further, AP 1200 and WLAN devices 1202, 1204, and 1206 are backward compatible with IEEE 802.11 (a), (b), (g), and (n) operational standards. In support of this backward compatibility, these devices support signal formats and signal structures consistent with these earlier operating standards.

Generally, the communications described herein are transmitted by a single receiver or multiple separate receivers (eg, by multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) and/or OFDMA, with OFDMA transmissions and multiple receivers The single transmission of the address is different) the reception is the target. For example, a single OFDMA transmission uses different tones or different sets of tones (eg, a cluster or channel) to transmit a distinct set of information, with each episode of the information set being simultaneously transmitted to one or more receivers in the time domain. Again, the OFDMA transmissions sent to one user are equivalent to OFDM transmissions (eg, OFDM can be considered a subset of OFDMA). A single MU-MIMO transmission may include a spatially-diverse signal of a shared tone set, each containing distinct information, and each transmitted to one or more distinct receivers. Some single transmissions may be a combination of OFDMA and MU-MIMO. The multi-user (MU) described herein can be viewed as multiple users sharing at least one cluster simultaneously (eg, at least one channel within at least one frequency band).

The illustrated MIMO transceiver can include SISO, SIMO, and MISO transceivers. The clusters employed by the above communications (e.g., OFDMA communications) may be continuous (e.g., adjacent to each other) or intermittent (e.g., separated by a guard interval of a band gap). Transmissions on different OFDMA clusters may occur simultaneously Or it may not happen at the same time. The wireless communication device described herein is capable of supporting communication through a single cluster or any combination thereof. Legacy users and new versions of users (e.g., TGac MU-MIMO, OFDMA, MU-MIMO/OFDMA, etc.) may share bandwidth at a given time, or in a particular embodiment they may be scheduled at different times. Such a MU-MIMO/OFDMA transmitter (eg, an AP or STA) may aggregate into more than one receiving wireless communication device (eg, STA) on the same cluster (eg, at least one channel in at least one frequency band) The packet is transmitted (eg, time multiplexed) to transmit the packet. In this case, all communication links to each receiving wireless communication device (e.g., STA) require channel training.

13 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication device and a cluster that can be used to support communication with at least one additional wireless communication device. In general, a cluster can be viewed as a description of a tone map (eg, an OFDM symbol) within one or more channels or between one or more channels (eg, a sub-divided portion of the spectrum), eg, One or more channels may be located in one or more frequency bands (eg, portions of the spectrum separated by a larger amount). As an example, each channel of 20 MHz may be located in the 5 GHz band or centered on the 5 GHz band. Channels in any of the above frequency bands may be continuous (e.g., adjacent to each other) or discontinuous (e.g., separated by guard intervals of the band gap). Generally, one or more channels may be located within a given frequency band, and it is not necessary to have the same number of channels within different frequency bands. Again, a cluster is generally understood to be any combination of one or more channels between one or more frequency bands.

The wireless communication device of this schematic diagram may be of any of the various types and/or equivalents described herein (eg, an AP, WLAN device, or other inclusion) However, it is not limited to the communication device of any of the devices described in FIG. 1). A wireless communication device includes multiple antennas from which one or more signals can be transmitted to, and/or receive one or more from one or more other wireless communication devices Signals.

Such a cluster can be used to transmit signals over a variety of one or more selected antennas. For example, different clusters are shown for transmitting signals separately using different one or more antennas.

It should also be noted that a general nomenclature may be employed with respect to certain embodiments; wherein a wireless communication device (e.g., an access point (AP)) is used, relative to other, relative to many other receiving wireless communication devices (e.g., STAs) STA's 'AP' wireless station (STA) initiates communication, and/or acts as a network controller type of wireless communication device that responds to and transmits while supporting the above communication Wireless communication equipment cooperation. Of course, although the general name of the transmitting wireless communication device and the receiving wireless communication device can be used to distinguish the operations performed by the different wireless communication devices in the communication system, all such wireless communication devices in the communication system can of course support and Two-way communication from other wireless communication devices in the communication system. In other words, various types of transmitting wireless communication devices and receiving wireless communication devices can support two-way communication with other wireless communication devices in the communication system. In general, the above described capabilities, functions, and operations described herein are applicable to any wireless communication device.

The various aspects, principles, and equivalents thereof of the invention described herein are applicable to use in various standards, protocols, and/or recommended practices, including those currently under development, such as in accordance with IEEE 802.11x (eg, , where x is a standard, agreement, and/or recommended practice for a, b, g, n, ac, ad, ae, af, ah, etc.).

For example, IEEE 802.11ah is a new protocol/standard currently under development and is applicable to remote and low speed applications operating in the global spectrum below 1 GHz. The available spectrum is different for each country and needs to be flexibly designed to suit different options. As such, modifications to the IEEE 802.11 standard, protocols, and/or recommended practices may be used to implement longer latency extensions and lower data rate applications that follow the IEEE 802.11ah development standards.

In this context, specific self-tuning and/or modification may be implemented with respect to IEEE 802.11ac standards, protocols, and/or recommended practices to provide efficient support for longer latency extensions and lower data rate applications.

14 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment 1400 of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). OFDM modulation can be viewed as splitting the available spectrum into multiple (narrowband) tones or subcarriers (eg, lower data rate tones or carriers). Typically, the frequency responses of these subcarriers are overlapping and orthogonal. Each tone or subcarrier can be modulated using any of various modulation coding techniques.

OFDM modulation is performed by performing simultaneous transmission of a large number (narrowband) of tones or subcarriers (or multiple tones). In general, a guard interval (GI) or guard interval is also employed between OFDM symbols in an effort to minimize ISI (inter-symbol interference) effects that can be caused by multipath effects within the communication system (this effect may be within the wireless communication system) A matter of particular concern). In addition, CP (Circle Header) can also be employed within the guard interval to allow for switching time of OFDM symbols (when jumping to a new band) and to allow orthogonality of OFDM symbols to be maintained. In general, OFDM system design is based on the desired delay spread within the communication system (eg, the desired delay spread of the communication channel).

Here, the proposed new preamble structure is suitable for various modes of operation including applications for single-user situations, multi-user situations, and the like. on IEEE 802.11ac, it should be noted that for the SU case, only a single preamble signal is included (for example, in the case of SU, the second signal field (SIG-B) is ignored). With regard to lower frequencies, narrowband channels and longer distance applications associated with the currently developed IEEE 802.11ah standard (eg, according to task group Tgah), proposals for two different types of preambles are presented here (eg, for short preambles) Embodiments of signal structure and long preamble signal structure).

The following signaling can be included in the preamble used by the wireless communication.

An indication of a preamble signal in a format corresponding to a single user (SU) or multi-user (MU) application may be provided in the SIG-A field. For example, one or two bits (or a series or a group of bits) can be implemented to provide an indication of different preamble signal types and/or transmission types (eg, MU, SU open loop, SU beamforming).

Furthermore, before the signal field (SIG-A), there are some (two or more) modulation code set (MCS) possibilities that may indicate SIG-A and/or the second signal field (SIG-B). An indication of one. The indication can be in a short training field (STF) and/or a long training field (LTF). The indication is related to field content, reverse polarity, and/or phase offset.

For lower frequencies, narrowband channels, and longer distance applications associated with the currently developed IEEE 802.11ah standard (eg, according to task group Tgah), construct a relatively short preamble signal (relative to the longer preamble signal used) The field) is desirable. As such, a new method for shortening the preamble signal is proposed herein, for example, according to the structure of the STF and/or LTF field therein.

For example, a bit begins to appear in a packet in the signal field (SIG-A) to indicate information about the packet. But here, in those with the letter Additional information may be provided before the occurrence of the SIG-A related bit (eg, based on the field of the pre-SIG-A field that is considered to be encrypted). That is, even if the MCS of the SIG-A is specified (for example, generally specified as the relatively lowest order, so that all the wireless communication devices can at least properly receive, demodulate, decode, etc. the encapsulated SIG-A), Means for transmitting this information may be provided to change some indications to indicate that the signal field (SIG-A) is not the default MCS (eg, by implementing at least one phase offset, and or at least one polarity offset, etc.) because at SIG- Before the A field and up to the SIG-A field, there is no bit that can indicate this information. Certain aspects of the signal corresponding to the portions of the signal may be implemented to indicate what happens later in the field (eg, according to at least one phase offset, and/or at least one polarity offset, etc.) The encrypted pre-SIG-A field (pre-SIG-Afield) is implemented.

Figure 15 illustrates an embodiment 1500 of a preamble signal used in packet communication for a single user (SU) application. Embodiment 1500 can be viewed as SU case option 1. It can be seen that the transmit beamforming weight can be applied at the beginning of the packet.

Figure 16 illustrates another embodiment 1600 of a preamble signal used in packet communication for a single user (SU) application. This embodiment 1600 can be viewed as SU case option 2. It can be seen that the transmit beamforming weight can be applied after the signal field (SIG-A).

Figure 17 illustrates an embodiment 1700 of a preamble signal for use in packet communication for a multi-user (MU) application. Embodiment 1700 can be viewed as a MU preamble condition.

It can be seen that beamforming (precoding) can be applied after the signal field (SIG-A). The preamble signal structure can be used by MU beamforming and SU beamforming. Marks N1, N2 (and / or N3, N4) indicate that the symbol can be made without The same number of repetitions (e.g., in one embodiment, the number of repetitions is any integer between 1-4).

The preamble structure, such as the preamble structure suitable for the currently developed IEEE 802.11ah standard, may have some properties similar to the preamble structure following IEEE 802.11ac. For example, a signal field (SIG-A) can be implemented to include bits that must be seen by all users, and use the lowest MCS in the system (eg, lower order modulation, lower coding rate, etc.), thereby making all The wireless communication device can receive, demodulate, decode, etc., at least a portion of the packet. Furthermore, the second signal field (SIG-B) can be implemented to include user-specific bits.

However, the preamble signal structure, such as the preamble signal structure suitable for the currently developed IEEE 802.11ah standard, may have other different and particularly suitable attributes for such lower frequency, narrowband channel and longer range applications. For example, a signal field (SIG-A) can be implemented to include bits that can signal MCS for data and MCS for second signal field (SIG-B). In one embodiment, the signal field (SIG-A) data MCS and SIG-B MCS are different, and a delta (the difference, such as Δ) between the two MCSs can be signaled in the signal field (SIG- A). For example, the signal field (SIG-A) may represent the MCS for the second signal field (SIG-B) and the second signal field (SIG-B) represents the MCS for the data. That is to say, the signal field (SIG-A) can indicate each of the subsequent independent and respective different fields in the MCS.

Alternatively, the signal field (SIG-A) may indicate ΔMCS (eg, based on a difference of at least one other MCS) such that the ΔMCS is relative to the MCS of the second signal field (SIG-B), thereby causing the second signal Field (SIG-B) MCS and ΔMCS can be used to properly process the data.

A variety of preamble signal combinations can be selected (eg, from 5 representative combinations). For example, the signal field (SIG-A) contains 1 or 2 bits (or a series of indications that can be implemented to provide different types of preamble signals and/or transmission types (eg, MU, SU open loop, SU beamforming). Or a group of bits).

With regard to these various combinations, the present invention contemplates selecting at least one column (e.g., with reference to Figure 18 referenced below), and then, based on the selected column, the preamble format will be specified as a function of the type of transmission.

Combination #1:

̇SU option 1 for SU beamforming and SU open loop

̇MU preamble signal for MU transmission

̇Two types of preamble signals

Combination #2:

̇SU option 2 for SU beamforming and SU open loop

̇MU preamble signal for MU transmission

̇Two types of preamble signals

Combination #3:

̇SU option 1 is only used for open loop SU transmission

SU SU option 2 in this case for SU beamforming (closed loop) transmission

̇MU preamble signal for MU transmission

̇Three types of preamble signals

Combination #4:

̇SU option 1 is only used for open loop SU transmission

̇MU preamble signal for SU beamforming and MU conditions

SIGIn the case of SU beamforming, SIG-B is irrelevant and can be ignored

̇Two types of preamble signals

Combination #5:

̇In order to reduce the complexity of the implementation, only the MU preamble can be selected for SU (open loop and beamforming) and MU transmission.

̇ Single preamble signal type

̇SIG-A indicates SU or MU transmission

The STF1 field can be implemented according to the power increase with respect to the STF1 field indicated in the beginning of the packet, compared to the other fields in the packet. The increased power provides better packet detection, timing and synchronization.

In some embodiments, since STF2 is available for automatic gain control (AGC) and/or AGC estimation (which may be coarse), the STF2 field is much shorter than the STF1 field. For example, according to IEEE 802.11a/n/ac, there are 10 repetitions of 0.8 μs in the STF. According to an embodiment that can be applied in the currently developed IEEE 802.11ah standard, only one or two short repetitions can be used. However, according to the currently developed IEEE 802.11ah standard, each repetition can be longer due to bandwidth scaling (downsampling).

It should be noted that STF2 fields are not present in all embodiments. For example, the loop first code of the next orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol can be applied to automatic gain control (AGC) and/or AGC estimation. In some cases, the loop first code may be longer than in other embodiments.

Other preamble signal structures can be considered. For example, if one or more fields in the preamble signal have multiple symbols, information about different frame formats can be passed on consecutive symbols, for example, before the arrival of the bits of the SIG-A field, according to the encryption Former-SIG-A field, using:

̇ different symbolic content (eg, using different periods of time in some fields in the preamble, eg, about STF, and/or parts thereof)

Reverse polarity

̇ phase shift

The number of symbols per field can vary (eg, N1, N2, SIG-A, SIG-B, etc.). In this manner, the size of the packet can be modified/changed indirectly based on the modification/change in the size of the preamble signal. Such a different amount of variability of symbols in each field can be determined on the basis of:

̇ on a pre-configured basis

On a semi-static basis

̇ Dynamically, based on each package

The number of symbols per field varies according to a number of factors (eg, N1, N2, SIG-A, SIG-B), including:

̇Application (use plan)

MCData MCS

̇SNR requirement

̇ required distance

̇ required power consumption

Figure 18 illustrates an embodiment 1800 of a list of options for preamble format options for different transmission types. As shown in the brief discussion above, with respect to different combinations, it is claimed herein that at least one of the columns of FIG. 18 is selected for use, and then, according to operations in accordance with the selected column, the preamble format will be specified as a function of the type of transmission. . It should be noted that the table includes a subset of all possible permutations (for example, this may be 27); from some perspectives, these subsets of all possible permutations can be considered as all possible A more feasible arrangement change in the arrangement of changes.

For example, if a column on the rightmost hand side is selected, the common frame format for each of the SU open loop, SU closed loop (beamforming), and each mode/transmission type of the MU would be MU.

Alternatively, if the first column option is selected, the common frame format for each of the various operating modes/transmission types of SU open loop and SU closed loop (beamforming) will be OP1. However, for the mode/transmission type of the MU, the frame format will be MU.

Alternatively, if the second column option is selected (located to the right of the first column option), the common frame format for each of the various operating modes/transmission types of SU open loop and SU closed loop (beamforming) will be OP2. But for the mode/transmission type of the MU, the frame format will be MU. The frame format for other operating modes/transmission types is shown in the diagram.

Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment 1900 of communication between two or more communication devices. With regard to this schematic, it can be seen that communication can be implemented between any number of communication devices. For example, from some perspectives, a transmitting communication device (eg, an access point (AP) or a wireless station (STA) operating as a network coordinator, a network manager, an AP, etc.) can be used for transmitting Information to any number of receiving communication devices (eg, STAs). Of course, any one of the STAs can also transmit information back to other transmitting communication devices of the AP or STA.

With reference to various embodiments and figures, it will be appreciated that one or more packets may be employed to enable communication between various communication devices. Each packet may have one of any of a number of different combinations of preamble types. In view of the various combinations of preamble signals proposed by the present invention, two or more preamble signal types can be employed for any desired communication. Considering combinations described elsewhere herein, such as combinations 1, 2, 4, two separate preamble types can be employed for communication between various communication devices. Considering the alternative combination 3, three separate types of preamble signals can be used for communication between various vacation devices. Of course, with respect to combination 5, in certain desired embodiments, only A type of preamble signal.

In some cases, a preferred embodiment employing two separate types of preamble signals can be implemented in accordance with the combination 4 described elsewhere herein. When any desired transmitting communication device constructs a signal including a particular desired type of preamble signal according to any desired combination of preamble signal types (including those described herein), it should be noted that any receiving communication device may be based on The analysis of the preamble in the received number determines the mode of operation associated with the given communication. That is, when operating in accordance with a particular mode of operation (eg, utilizing a particular combination of preamble types), the receiving communication device can perform an analysis of a particular preamble type to determine the type of communication associated with it (eg, The difference between or between SU, MU, beamforming, etc.).

20, 21 and 22 are schematic diagrams of an implementation of a method of operating one or more wireless communication devices.

Referring to method 2000 in FIG. 20, as shown in block 2012, method 2000 begins by generating a signal including a preamble signal based on a first preamble signal type or a second preamble signal type. For example, from a certain perspective, a specific combination of preamble types can be used for communication between different communication devices. In some embodiments, two or more separate types of preamble signals may be employed, and a given communication device (eg, a transmitting communication device) may be used according to a selected type of preamble signal (eg, a selected preamble signal) A type is one of a number of possible preamble types associated with a given combination being employed, performing selective generation of signals.

In some cases, as shown in block 2012, the first preamble signal type only corresponds to an open loop single user (SU) transmission. Moreover, in some cases, as shown in block 2014, the second preamble type corresponds to SU beamforming or multi-user (MU) transmission.

As represented by block 2020, method 2000 continues by transmitting the signal, or at least one, with at least one antenna of a communication device (eg, a communication device for performing generation of a signal including a preamble signal having a selected preamble type) The signal corresponds to an additional signal to at least one wireless communication device. It will be appreciated that a given communication device may perform the generation of a first signal comprising a preamble signal having a selected type of preamble signal and, depending on the generation, from one communication device to another via a given communication channel or communication link. The continuous time signal transmitted by the communication device can perform one or more other operations. It should be understood that various operations may be performed in accordance with generating such signals, for example, in an analog front end (AFE) of a communication device (eg, including analog to digital domain conversion, frequency shifting, scaling, filtering, and / or other required operations for generating a continuous time signal suitable for transmission over a communication channel).

Referring to method 2100 in FIG. 21, as represented by block 2110, method 2100 begins by generating a signal including a preamble based on the selected type of preamble signal. In conjunction with this or other embodiments or schematics herein, it will be appreciated that communication between different communication devices may employ a particular combination of preamble types. In some embodiments, two or more respective types of preamble signals may be employed, and a given communication device (eg, a transmitting communication device) may operate to select a preamble according to a selected preamble type (eg, a selected preamble) The signal type is one of a number of possible preamble types associated with a given combination being employed, performing selective generation of the signal.

In some cases, as shown in block 2112, the selected preamble type is characterized by including at least one short code portion followed by at least one long code portion followed by a signal field followed by at least one additional long code portion. of. As shown in block 2114, such a preamble signal is generated in the signal There can be one or more data fields behind.

As represented by block 2120, method 2100 continues by transmitting the signal, or at least one, with at least one antenna of a communication device (eg, a communication device for performing generation of a signal including a preamble signal having a selected preamble type) The other signal corresponding to the signal is to at least one wireless communication device. It will be appreciated that a given communication device may perform the generation of a first signal comprising a preamble signal having a selected type of preamble signal and, depending on the generation, from one communication device to another via a given communication channel or communication link. The continuous time signal transmitted by the communication device can perform one or more additional operations. It should be understood that various operations may be performed in accordance with generating such signals, for example, in an analog front end (AFE) of a communication device (eg, including analog to digital domain conversion, frequency shifting, scaling, filtering, and / or other required operations for generating a continuous time signal suitable for transmission over a communication channel).

Referring to method 2200 in FIG. 22, as represented by block 2210, method 2200 begins by generating a signal including a preamble signal based on the selected preamble signal type. In conjunction with this or other embodiments or schematics herein, it will be appreciated that communication between different communication devices may employ a particular combination of preamble types. In some embodiments, two or more respective types of preamble signals may be employed, and a given communication device (eg, a transmitting communication device) may operate to select a preamble according to a selected preamble type (eg, a selected preamble) The signal type is one of a number of possible preamble types associated with a given combination being employed, performing selective generation of the signal.

In some cases, as shown in block 2212, the selected preamble type is characterized by a corresponding multi-user (MU) transmission. Additionally, as shown in block 2214, in some cases, the selected preamble type is included to One less training sequence followed by at least one long code portion followed by a signal field followed by at least one other short code portion followed by at least one additional long code portion. As shown in block 2216, such a preamble signal generated in the signal may be followed by one or more data fields.

As represented by block 2220, method 2200 continues by transmitting the signal, or at least one, with at least one antenna of a communication device (eg, a communication device for performing generation of a signal including a preamble signal having a selected preamble type) The signal corresponds to an additional signal to at least one wireless communication device. It will be appreciated that a given communication device may perform the generation of a first signal comprising a preamble signal having a selected type of preamble signal and, depending on the generation, from one communication device to another via a given communication channel or communication link. The continuous time signal transmitted by the communication device can perform one or more additional operations. It should be understood that various operations may be performed in accordance with generating such signals, for example, in an analog front end (AFE) of a communication device (eg, including analog to digital domain conversion, frequency shifting, scaling, filtering, and / or other required operations for generating a continuous time signal suitable for transmission over a communication channel).

It should also be noted that various operations and functions described in relation to the various methods described above can be performed in a wireless communication device, such as using a baseband processing module and/or processing module implemented within a wireless communication device, for example, such as The baseband processing module 64 and/or processing module 50) and/or other components described with reference to FIG. 2, including one or more baseband processing modules, one or more medium access control (MAC) layers, one or Multiple physical layers (PHYs), and/or other components, and the like. For example, the baseband processing module can generate the signals and blocks described herein, as well as perform various operations and analyses, or any other operations and functions, etc., or their respective equivalents as described herein.

In some embodiments, the baseband processing module and/or processing module (which may be implemented in the same device or in a separate device) is capable of performing the processing to generate a signal, wherein various aspects of the invention are described herein. And/or any other operations and functions, etc., or their equivalents, transmitting the signal to another wireless communication device using at least one of any number of ratios and any number of antennas (eg, the communication) The device may also include at least one of any number of ratios and at least one of any number of antennas). In some embodiments, the processing can be performed cooperatively by the processing module in the first device and the baseband processing module in the second device. In some embodiments, the operation is performed entirely by the baseband processing module or processing module.

As may be used herein, the term "substantially" or "approximately" provides an industry-accepted tolerance for the corresponding term and the relative relationship between the various items. Such industry accepted tolerances range from less than 1% to 50% and correspond to, but are not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processing fluctuations, temperature fluctuations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. The above relativity between the items changes from a few percentage points to a magnitude difference. As may be used herein, the terms "operably coupled," "coupled," and/or "connected" include direct connections and/or intervening items (eg, including but not limited to components, components, circuits, and / or module) Indirect connection, where for indirect connections, the intervening term does not change the information of the signal, but its current level, voltage level and/or power level can be adjusted. As may be used herein, inferred connections (i.e., one element is connected to another element by inference) include direct and indirect connections between two elements using the same method of "coupling". As may also be used herein, the term "for" or "operably coupled" means that the item contains one or more of a power connection, input, output, etc., such that when executed, a Or multiple of its corresponding functional items may also include inferred connections to one or more other items. As may also be used herein, the term "associated with" includes a direct and/or indirect connection of an individual item and/or an item embedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term "comparative results are advantageous" means that a comparison between two or more projects, signals, etc. provides a desired relationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal 1 has an amplitude greater than signal 2, an advantageous comparison can be obtained when the amplitude of signal 1 is greater than the amplitude of signal 2 or the amplitude of signal 2 is less than the amplitude of signal 1.

As may be used herein, the terms "processing module," "module," "processing circuit," and/or "processing unit" (eg, include, are operational, implementable, and/or used for encoding, for decoding, Each module and/or circuit used for baseband processing or the like may be a single processing device or multiple processing devices. Such processing devices may be microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gate arrays, programmable logic devices, state machines, logic circuits, analog circuits, digital circuits, and / or any device based on circuit-hard coded and / or operational instructions operating signals (analog and / or digital). Processing modules, modules, processing circuits, and/or processing units may have associated memory and/or integrated memory elements, which may be a single storage device, multiple storage devices, and/or processing modules, modules, processing An embedded circuit of a circuit and/or a processing unit. The storage device may be a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, a static memory, a dynamic storage device, a flash memory, Cache memory and/or any device that stores digital information. It should be noted that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit includes more than one processing device, the processing device may be centrally distributed (eg, directly connected through a wired and/or wireless bus structure) or Possible dispersion Distribution (for example, cloud computing through indirect connections over regional networks and/or wide area networks). It should also be noted that if the processing module, module, processing circuit, and/or processing unit implements one or more of its functions through a state machine, analog circuit, digital circuit, and/or logic circuit, then the corresponding operational command is stored. The memory and/or memory elements may be embedded in or external to circuitry including state machines, analog circuits, digital circuits, and/or logic circuits. It should still be noted that the memory component can store hard coded and/or operational instructions executed by the processing module, module, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit, the hardcoded and/or operational instructions corresponding to one or more At least some of the steps and/or functions set forth in the figures. Such storage devices or memory elements can be included in the article.

The description process of the present invention also describes the execution of specific functions and their interrelationships by means of method steps. For ease of description, the boundaries and sequence of these functional modules and method steps are specifically defined. They can also redefine their boundaries and order while making these functions work. However, these redefinitions of boundaries and sequences will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. Alternative boundaries and sequences can be defined as long as the specific functions and relationships are properly performed. Accordingly, any such alternative boundaries or sequences are within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. Moreover, for the convenience of description, the boundaries of these functional building blocks are specifically defined herein. When these important functions are properly implemented, it is permissible to change their boundaries. Similarly, flowchart modules are also specifically defined herein to illustrate certain important functions. For a wide range of applications, the boundaries and order of the flowchart modules can be additionally defined as long as these important functions are still implemented. Variations in the boundaries and sequence of the above-described functional modules and flow-through functional modules are still considered to be within the scope of the claims. Those skilled in the art are also aware of the functional modules described herein, as well as other illustrative modules, modules, and components. It is a combination of, for example, or a discrete component, a special function integrated circuit, a processor with appropriate software, and the like.

Likewise, the invention has been described, at least in part, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Herein, embodiments of the invention are used to explain the invention, an aspect thereof, its features, its concepts, and/or examples thereof. A physical embodiment of a device, article, machine, and/or process embodying the invention may comprise one or more of the various aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with reference to one or more embodiments described herein. . In addition, from one figure to another, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly named functions, steps, and modules using the same or different labels. In this case, each function, each step, Each module or the like may be the same or similar function, step, module, or the like, or different functions, steps, and modules.

Unless otherwise indicated, signals from, to, and/or between elements may be analogous or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-ended or differential in any of the figures presented herein. . For example, if the signal path is shown as a single-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path. Similarly, if the signal path is shown as a differential path, it also represents a single-ended signal path. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, although one or more specific architectures are described herein, one or more data busses, direct connectivity between components, and/or other components may also be used. Indirect connections between them to implement other architectures.

The term "module" is used in the description of various embodiments of the invention. The module includes a functional module implemented by hardware that performs one or more functions, such as processing one or more input signals to produce one or more output signals. The hardware that implements the module may run in conjunction with the software and/or firmware itself. As used herein, mode A group can contain one or more submodules that are themselves modules.

Although specific combinations of various functions and features of the present invention are clearly described herein, other combinations of these features and functions are also possible. The invention is not limited to the specific examples disclosed herein, and clearly includes other combinations of these.

Mode selection table:

10‧‧‧Wireless communication system

12-16‧‧‧Base Station (BS) and/or access point

18‧‧‧Notebook host

20‧‧‧Personal Digital Assistant Host

22‧‧‧Cell phone host

24‧‧‧Personal Computer Host

26‧‧‧Notebook host

28‧‧‧Cell phone host

30‧‧‧Personal Digital Assistant Host

32‧‧‧Personal Computer Host

34‧‧‧Network hardware

36‧‧‧Regional network connection

38‧‧‧Regional network connection

40‧‧‧Regional network connection

42‧‧‧ WAN connection

50‧‧‧Processing module

52‧‧‧ memory

54‧‧‧ radio interface

56‧‧‧Output interface

58‧‧‧Input interface

60‧‧‧ radio

62‧‧‧Host interface

64‧‧‧Baseband processing module

66‧‧‧ memory

68-72‧‧‧ Radio Frequency (RF) Transmitter

74‧‧‧transmit/receive (T/R) module

75‧‧‧Digital filter and upsampling module

77‧‧‧Digital mode conversion module

79‧‧‧Analog filter

76-80‧‧‧ Receiver

81‧‧‧Upconversion module

83‧‧‧Power Amplifier

85‧‧‧RF filter

82-86‧‧‧Antenna

87‧‧‧Filtered symbols

88‧‧‧RF outbound data

89‧‧‧ analog signal

90‧‧‧Outbound symbol flow

91‧‧‧Filtered analog signal

92‧‧‧Outbound RF signal

93‧‧‧Local oscillation

94‧‧‧Inbound RF signal

95‧‧‧High frequency signal

96‧‧‧Inbound symbol flow

97‧‧‧Amplified high frequency signal

100‧‧‧Local Oscillation Module

101‧‧‧RF filter

102‧‧‧ mode selection signal

103‧‧‧Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)

105‧‧‧Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA)

107‧‧‧Down Conversion Module

109‧‧‧Analog filter

111‧‧‧Analog-to-Digital Converter Module

113‧‧‧Digital filter and downsampling module

170‧‧‧Demultiplexer

171‧‧‧ rate selection

172‧‧‧scrambler

173‧‧‧ Receive mode selection signal

174‧‧‧Channel encoder

175‧‧‧Mode Manager Module

176‧‧‧Interlacer

179‧‧‧ rate setting

180-184‧‧‧ symbol mapper

186-190‧‧‧IFFT/Cyclic Prefix Module

192‧‧ hours/minute encoder

194-198‧‧‧Digital Filter/Upsampling Module

200-204‧‧‧Digital mode conversion module

206-216‧‧‧Analog filter

218-222‧‧‧I/Q modulator

224-228‧‧‧RF amplifier

230-234‧‧‧RF filter

236-240‧‧‧Antenna

252-256‧‧‧RF filter

258-262‧‧‧Low noise amplifier

264-268‧‧‧I/Q demodulator

270-280‧‧‧analog filter

282-286‧‧•Analog-to-digital converter

288-292‧‧‧Digital filter and downsampling module

294‧‧‧ hour/minute decoder

296-300‧‧‧Fast Fourier Transform/Cyclic Prefix Removal Module

302-306‧‧‧symbol demapping module

308‧‧‧Multiplexer

310‧‧‧Deinterlacer

312‧‧‧Channel decoder

314‧‧‧Disscrambling module

321‧‧‧Channel decoder

1200‧‧‧Access Point (AP)

1202‧‧‧WLAN equipment

1204‧‧‧WLAN equipment

1206‧‧‧WLAN equipment

1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication system.

2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication device.

3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a radio frequency (RF) transmitter.

4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an RF receiver.

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a baseband processing method of data.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a method further defining step 120 of FIG.

7-9 are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of encoding scrambled data.

10A and 10B are schematic diagrams of various embodiments of a radio transmitter.

11A and 11B are schematic views of various embodiments of a radio receiver.

12 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an access point (AP) and a multiple wireless area network (WLAN) device operating in accordance with one or more aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention.

13 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication device and a cluster that can be used to support communication with at least one additional wireless communication device.

14 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing).

15 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a preamble used in packet communication for a single-user (SU) application.

16 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a preamble signal used in packet communication for a single user (SU) application.

17 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a preamble signal used in packet communication for a multi-user (MU) application.

18 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an option table for preamble format options for different transmission types.

19 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of communication between two or more communication devices.

20, 21 and 22 are schematic diagrams of embodiments of a method of operation of one or more wireless communication devices.

18-32‧‧‧Wireless communication equipment

50‧‧‧Processing module

52‧‧‧ memory

54‧‧‧ radio interface

56‧‧‧Output interface

58‧‧‧Input interface

60‧‧‧ radio

62‧‧‧Host interface

64‧‧‧Baseband processing module

66‧‧‧ memory

68-72‧‧‧ Radio Frequency (RF) Transmitter

74‧‧‧transmit/receive (T/R) module

76-80‧‧‧ Receiver

82-86‧‧‧Antenna

88RF‧‧‧ outbound data

90‧‧‧Outbound symbol flow

92‧‧‧Outbound RF signal

94‧‧‧Inbound RF signal

96‧‧‧Inbound symbol flow

100‧‧‧Local Oscillation Module

102‧‧‧ mode selection signal

Claims (10)

A wireless communication device, comprising: a communication interface; and processing circuitry, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is configured to: generate a packet having a preamble signal, wherein the preamble signal has a specific preamble format, A particular preamble format is described by a predetermined combination of a plurality of preamble formats of a plurality of transmission types; a first preamble format based on said predetermined combination of said plurality of preamble formats when operating in a single loop user transmission Generating the preamble signal, the first preamble signal format comprising a short code portion followed by a long code portion followed by a first signal field followed by an additional one or more long code portions followed by a a data field; when operating in a single-user beamforming transmission, generating the preamble signal based on a second preamble signal format in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble signal formats, the second preamble signal format including the a short code portion followed by the one long code portion, followed by the first signal field, followed by an additional One or more short code portions, followed by the additional one or more long code portions, followed by the one data field, and applying a single user beamforming weight after the first signal field of the packet, Wherein the single user beamforming weight is employed by an additional wireless communication device; when operating in a multi-user beamforming transmission, based on the second preamble format in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble formats Generating the preamble signal and applying a multi-user beamforming weight after the first signal field of the packet, wherein the multi-user beamforming weight is An additional plurality of wireless communication devices are employed; transmitting the packet to the additional wireless communication device when operating in the single-loop user transmission or the single-user beamforming transmission; and when operating in the multi-use The transmitter transmits the packet to the additional plurality of wireless communication devices during beamforming transmission. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is further configured to: when the transmission type is the single-loop user transmission, the first signal The first signal field is set when at least one bit in the field is set to a first value to indicate the first preamble signal format and when the transmission type is the multi-user beamforming transmission or the single-user beamforming transmission The at least one bit is set to a second value to indicate the second preamble format. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is further configured to: based on the second preamble in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble formats Generating the preamble signal in a signal format such that the first signal field comprises a first plurality of modulation code sets having processing or demodulation that can be processed by at least one of the additional ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the base service set a parity bit, wherein the second signal field includes a second plurality of bits for defining information specific to the additional one of the wireless communication devices in the base service set. A wireless communication device comprising: a communication interface; and a processing circuit, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is used to: Generating a packet having a preamble signal, wherein the preamble signal has a particular preamble signal format, the particular preamble signal format being described by a predetermined combination of a plurality of preamble signal formats of a plurality of transmission types; when operating in a single user transmission type: When the single-user transmission type is a single-loop user transmission, generating the preamble signal based on a first preamble signal format in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble signal formats, and first signal of the preamble signal At least one bit in the field is set to a first value to indicate the first preamble signal format, the first preamble signal format includes a short code portion, followed by a long code portion, followed by the first signal field, followed by Is an additional one or more long code portions followed by a data field; when the single user transmission type is a single user beamforming transmission, based on the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble formats Generating, by the second preamble signal format, the preamble signal, and setting the at least one bit of the first signal field of the preamble signal to a value to indicate the second preamble signal format, the second preamble signal format including the one short code portion, followed by the one long code portion, followed by the one first signal field, followed by an additional one Or a plurality of short code portions, followed by an additional one or more long code portions, followed by said one data field, and applying a single user beamforming weight after said first signal field of the packet, wherein The single user beamforming weights are employed by an additional wireless communication device; and the packet is transmitted to the additional wireless communication device; and when operating in a multi-user beamforming transmission type: based on the plurality of preamble signals The second preamble signal format in the predetermined combination of formats generates the preamble signal and the preamble signal The at least one bit in the first signal field is set to the second value to indicate the second preamble signal format; and the multi-user beamforming weight is applied after the first signal field of the packet, wherein The multi-user beamforming weights are employed by an additional plurality of wireless communication devices; and the packets are transmitted to the additional plurality of wireless communication devices. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is further configured to: generate the preamble signal such that the additional plurality of long code portions include a long code portion and a second long code portion, the first long code portion is followed by the second long code portion, and the second long code portion is the first long code portion Repeat. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is further configured to: generate the first signal field based on a modulation code set used by a basic service set, The basic service set has additional of the plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein all of the additional plurality of wireless communication devices of the basic service set have the ability to process the first signal field based on the modulation code set. The wireless communication device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is further configured to: generate the preamble signal based on the first preamble signal format, and generate the Generating, by the first signal field, a modulation and coding set of the data field of the packet; and generating the preamble signal based on the second preamble signal format, including generating the first signal field and the second signal field Indicating the modulation code set of the data field of the packet. The wireless communication device of claim 7, wherein at least one of the processing circuit or the communication interface is further configured to: generate the preamble signal, and generate the first signal field to indicate the second A first modulation code set of the signal field, wherein the second signal field indicates a difference between the first modulation code set and a second modulation code set of the data field. A method for operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising: generating a packet having a preamble signal, wherein the preamble signal has a particular preamble signal format, the specific preamble signal format being comprised of a plurality of preamble signal formats of a plurality of transmission types Described as a predetermined combination; when operating in a single-user transmission type: when the single-user transmission type is a single-loop user transmission, based on the first preamble signal format in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble signal formats Generating the preamble signal, and setting at least one bit of the first signal field of the preamble signal to a first value to indicate the first preamble signal format, the first preamble signal format including a short code portion, followed by Is a long code portion, followed by the first signal field, followed by an additional one or more long code portions, followed by a data field; when the single user transmission type is a single user beamforming transmission Generating the preamble signal based on a second preamble signal format in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble formats, and The at least one bit in the first signal field of the preamble signal is set to a second value to indicate the second preamble signal format, and the second preamble signal format includes the one short code portion followed by the one a long code portion followed by said one first signal field followed by an additional one or more short code portions followed by an additional one or more long code portions followed by said one data Field, and applying a single user beamforming weight after the first signal field of the packet, wherein the single user beamforming weight is employed by an additional wireless communication device; and transmitting the packet to the additional wireless communication a device; and when operating in a multi-user beamforming transmission type: generating the preamble signal based on the second preamble signal format in the predetermined combination of the plurality of preamble signal formats, and using the preamble signal The at least one bit in the first signal field is set to the second value to indicate the second preamble signal format; and the multi-user beamforming weight is applied after the first signal field of the packet, where The multi-user beamforming weights are employed by an additional plurality of wireless communication devices; and the packets are transmitted to the additional plurality of wireless communication devices. The method of claim 9, further comprising: generating the preamble signal such that the additional plurality of long code portions comprises a first long code portion and a second long code portion, the first The long code portion is followed by the second long code portion, and the second long code portion is a repetition of the first long code portion.